MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Chairman Ti Lian Ker said Nazri’s recent statement had cleared the ambiguity surrounding the issue.
Prior to this, Ti said, news reports on Prime Minister Najib Razak’s announcement on the amendments were unclear on whether it would address unilateral conversions.
Ti said Nazri’s reassurance offered hope to those seeking fairness and justice, especially for non-Muslims, such as M Indira Gandhi and S Deepa, whose lives had been affected by unilateral conversions of their children.
He added that the amendments would ensure Islam was not exploited by irresponsible parents and that the rights of minors, in relation to freedom of religion, would also be protected.
“The changes in the LRA will uphold the image of Islam as a religion that upholds justice and fairness to all.”
Until the amendments to the LRA are tabled, Ti urged religious departments to observe the spirit of the amendment and refrain from issuing any certificate of conversion for minors, unless they receive evidence of consent from the non-converting spouse.
He also praised Najib for being firm on the matter and protecting the rights of all through inclusive policies.
Earlier today, Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz told Malay Mail Online that the Bill to be tabled in the October parliamentary sitting would bring an end to the issue of unilateral conversions.
“Now we are saying that all marriages under civil law must be resolved by the civil courts. It doesn’t matter if one person converts to Islam, the marriage took place under civil law.
“No more cases like Indira Gandhi. The religion of the children (in these disputes) will be the common religion of both parents when they were married under civil law… that is only fair,” Nazri was quoted as saying by the news portal.
Both Indira and Deepa’s cases have been a point of contention in the country over the past couple of years.
The two women had been involved in long drawn-out court battles regarding the custody and unilateral conversion of their children.
The issue struck a chord in many when the civil courts decided in favour of the wives by ruling that the conversions were not valid, although the shariah court had ruled in favour of the husbands.